Directive 09/CT-TTg the growth targets for the first 6 months and year of 2019

DIRECTIVE

On solutions to address challenges facing production and business, ensuring the achievement of the growth targets set for the first 6 months and the whole year
of 2019^[1]

The year of 2019 is determined to be the year of acceleration to successfully implement the resolutions of the XII^thNational Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (the Party) as well as the National Assembly’s Resolution on the 2016-2020 socio-economic development plan. With the action guidelines of “discipline, integrity, action, creativity, acceleration and effectiveness”, right from the beginning of the year, ministries, central agencies and local authorities have actively organized the implementation of the resolutions of the Party, National Assembly and Government on the 2019 socio-economic development and state budget estimates.

Nevertheless, the GDP growth in the first quarter of 2019 was lower than the expectation in the growth scenarios made from the beginning of the year. Besides, emerging challenges have affected the economic growth, especially in the processing and manufacturing industries and export of key goods items which show the sign of slowdown, and led to the unsatisfactory disbursement of public investment capital, especially for large projects, and complicated development of livestock epidemics, particularly African swine fever.

In an attempt to achieve or overachieve the 2019 GDP growth target of 6.8 percent, the tasks for the last months of the year, including addressing difficulties facing the production and business and boosting the economic growth, are quite enormous, requiring great efforts of all sectors and authorities in all fields. The Prime Minister requests the ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies and government-attached agencies, chairpersons of provincial-level People’s Committees and state economic groups and corporations (below collectively referred to as ministries, sectors and localities) to focus on directing the synchronous and effective performance of the following objectives, tasks and solutions:

I. OBJECTIVES AND REQUIREMENTS

Ministries, sectors and localities shall:

1. Avoid subjectivity in their direction and administration; closely monitor developments in global and domestic realities; follow up the objectives and tasks set forth in the Government’s Resolution No. 01/NQ-CP dated January 1, 2019, on major tasks and solutions to implement the 2019 socio-economic development plan and state budget estimates, and Resolution No. 02/NQ-CP of January 1, 2019, on further implementation of major tasks and solutions to improve the business environment and raise the national competitiveness in 2019, and orientations toward 2021, in order to set forth specific tasks for each sector, field or locality to boost, and address problems and difficulties facing, the production and business in a more radical and effective manner, thereby building the confidence of the people and enterprises and striving for fulfillment or overfulfilment of the 2019 socio-economic development objectives and tasks.

2. Base themselves on the growth tasks and objectives of the regions as well as major sectors and fields of the economy to set forth specific objectives, tasks and solutions for each sector with a view to creating a development driving force for not only 2019 but also for subsequent years.

3. Focus on directing the accelerated implementation of projects, particularly key, large-scale projects with spillover effects; strive for disbursement of 100% of the 2019 public investment capital.

4. Properly perform the task of reforming the specialized inspection, business conditions and administrative procedures as instructed by the Prime Minister in Document No. 320/TTg-KSTT of March 15, 2019.

II. SPECIFIC TASKS AND SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES FACING THE PRODUCTION AND BUSINESS AND BOOST THE GROWTH TO ACHIEVE THE OBJECTIVES SET FORTH FOR 2019

1. To step up the formulation and improvement of regulations

a/ The Ministry of Justice shall:

- Study amendments and supplementations to the Government’s Decree No. 59/2012/ND-CP of July 23, 2012, on monitoring and enforcement of law, remediation of limitations in the mechanism for coordination in law enforcement and slow policy response of a number of ministries, sectors and localities, then submit them to the Government in September 2019.

- Enhance the quality control of business conditions through the appraisal of draft legal documents.

- Strictly comply with the time limit for appraisal and giving of opinions in the formulation of regulations.

b/ The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall:

- Study amendments and supplementations to be included in the draft Law Amending and Supplementing a Number of Articles of the Investment Law and Law on Enterprises toward best facilitating operations of enterprises and addressing current challenges; reduce or cancel conditional business lines and trades that are no longer necessary, efficiently mobilize resources, and create an open and favorable investment environment in Vietnam.

- Coordinate with the Government Office, Ministry of Justice and related ministries in reporting to the Prime Minister before April 15, 2019, for issuance of a Government decree detailing a number of articles of the Planning Law and relevant documents; a Government resolution on the list of master plans to be incorporated in national-level, regional or provincial master plans and master plan transition under the National Assembly’s Resolution No. 74/2018/QH14; and a Prime Minister decision on cancellation of master plans on investment in the development of specific goods, services and products, determination of volume and quantity of goods, services and products to be manufactured, provided and sold (product master plans); review and propose solutions to address problems and challenges in the transition of master plans.

- Finalize a Government decree detailing a number of articles of the Bidding Law regarding investor selection, then report it to the Government in April 2019.

- Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with related ministries and agencies in, expeditiously reviewing the legal framework relevant to, and proposing solutions to improve legal institutions to serve, Vietnam’s integration and development, especially the implementation of new-generation FTAs against the background of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, including policies on support for startups and incentives for enterprises.

- Review, devise and implement solutions to address difficulties, particularly those concerning administrative procedures for and regulations on investment, construction, land, and large-sized, BT, BOT and FDI projects.

c/ The Ministry of Finance shall:

- Review and report to the Government in April 2019 for addressing problematic and unspecific provisions of the Government’s Decrees No. 126/2017/ND-CP of November 16, 2017, No. 167/2017/ND-CP of December 31, 2017, and No. 32/2018/ND-CP of March 8, 2018, on assurance of completion of equitization and capital divestment under approved plans.

- Promulgate as soon as possible circulars guiding the Government’s Decree 34/2018/ND-CP, on credit guarantee funds for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) (including a circular guiding the risk management mechanism; a circular guiding the financial handling mechanism; a circular guiding the financial mechanism for provision of support and counseling for SMEs, and a circular guiding the management and use of state budget funds in support of development of human resources for SMEs).

- Review and assess the consistency of the regulations on credit-eligible loan limits with the Law on Enterprise Income Tax, international practices and practical inspection and examination of enterprise income tax and operation models of Vietnam-based enterprises, particularly Vietnamese enterprises; propose revisions to and time of revision of the Government’s Decree No. 20/2017/ND-CP of February 24, 2017, on solutions for effective tax administration of enterprises engaged in transfer pricing, then report them to the Government in April 2019.

- Expeditiously finalize a decree on the use of public property for making payments to investors implementing BT projects, then report it to the Government in April 2019.

d/ The Ministry of Industry and Trade shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance and related agencies in, expeditiously drafting a decree amending and supplementing the Government’s Decree No. 83/2014/ND-CP of September 3, 2014, on petrol and oil trading, then report it to the Government in the second quarter of 2019.

dd/ the Ministry of Construction shall:

- Study and draft the Law Amending and Supplementing a Number of Articles of the Construction Law.

- Further implement the scheme on improvement of the system of construction norms and prices and scheme on improvement of the system of construction standards and technical regulations.

e/ The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall:

- Expeditiously finalize the pilot scheme on land concentration and accumulation to attract investment in hi-tech agricultural production, then report it to the Prime Minister.

- Improve the regulations on the allocation or lease of seawater surface and marine areas, ensuring the consistency, uniformity and non-overlap between the land law and sea law, then report them to the Government in April 2019.

g/ The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall expeditiously study amendments and supplementations to the Government’s Decree No. 02/2017/ND-CP of January 9, 2017, on mechanisms and policies to support agricultural production for restoring production in areas hit by natural disasters or epidemics according to summary procedures, then submit them to the Government before April 15, 2019.

h/ The Ministry of Science and Technology shall actively formulate and submit to the Government a scheme on improvement of legal institutions to attract social resources for investment in scientific and technological activities and innovation.

i/ The Ministry of Public Security shall finalize a decree amending and supplementing Decree No. 79/2014/ND-CP detailing the Law on Fire Prevention and Fighting, then report it to the Government in the fourth quarter of 2019.

k/ The Ministry of Home Affairs shall review the organizational apparatus of the directorates or equivalent and propose appropriate reorganization plans toward reducing intermediary levels, then report it to the Prime Minister in May 2019.

l/ Ministries and ministerial-level agencies shall submit as soon as possible to the Government for promulgation decrees guiding the implementation of Law No. 35/2018/QH14 of November 20, 2018, Amending and Supplementing a Number of Planning-related Articles of 37 Laws, ensuring consistency in the legal system and adherence to the basic principles of planning activities, and ensuring that all planning information are transparently disclosed to the people and enterprises.

2. To improve the business investment environment, substantially reducing business conditions, reforming administrative procedures, removing obstacles for production and business activities, and creating a driving force for the development of enterprises

a/ Ministries, sectors and localities shall:

- Approve their plans and programs of action to implement the Government’s Resolution No. 02/NQ-CP of January 1, 2019, on further implementation of major tasks and solutions to improve the business environment and raise national competitiveness in 2019, and orientations toward 2021, with specific contents and tasks as required.

- Expeditiously review and annul in April 2019 according to their competence master plans on investment in development of specific goods, services and products, determining the volume and quantity of goods, services and products to be manufactured, provided and sold according to their tasks assigned under the Government’s Resolution No. 11/NQ-CP of February 5, 2018, on the implementation of the Planning Law, thereby promptly removing difficulties for investment, production and business activities of enterprises and the people.

b/ The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall:

- Study amendments and supplementations to Decree No. 78/2015/ND-CP to simplify the procedures for business registration, including the abolition of the charge for announcement of registration contents, then submit them to the Government in the second quarter of 2019.

- Assess changes in and real impacts on enterprises caused by the reform, abolition or simplification of the regulations on business conditions by ministries and sectors in 2018, then report them to the Prime Minister in June 2019.

- Draft a Government resolution to concretize a number of support policies provided in the Law on Support for Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises, including support for access to resources, raising of administration capacity, making of strategies, and improvement of the sense of law observance, then report it to the Prime Minister in April 2019.

c/ The Ministry of Finance shall:

- Draft a Government resolution on enterprise income tax policies in order to support and develop SMEs, then submit it to the Government in April 2019.

- Assess the operation of the national and ASEAN single-window mechanisms and propose solutions to improve its effectiveness, then report them to the Prime Minister in the second quarter of 2019.

- Expeditiously issue a circular to guide the spending items and management of science and technology development funds of enterprises, with a view to promoting their autonomy and discretion in using their research and development funds for innovation and investment in innovative startups.

d/ The Ministry of Science and Technology shall:

- Expeditiously draft a Prime Minister directive on promotion of science and technology development funds of enterprises to support and promote the innovation and technology transfer in enterprises, economic groups and corporations.

- Consider adding provisions that innovative startups are entitled to the state budget’s support through the National Technology Innovation Fund, adding sponsorship, provision of concessional loans, loan interest support and loan guarantee for innovative startups for technology incubation, and business idea and model development.

- Organize activities to develop the science and technology market, attaching importance to promoting technology transfer from the developed countries to domestic enterprises, giving priority to hi-tech and environment-friendly projects with potential of making spillover effects or wishing to coordinate with domestic enterprises in participating in the global value chain.

- Expeditiously issue a document guiding Decree No. 43/2017/ND-CP of April 14, 2017, on goods labeling, in the second quarter of 2019.

dd/ The Ministry of Construction shall:

- Simplify the procedures for, and promptly solve problems in, the appraisal and approval of construction investment projects; approve construction blueprints, total cost estimates and project management units, and grant capacity certificates and construction licenses.

- Study and propose solutions to raise the construction licensing index by one spot in 2019 and two or three spots by 2021.

e/ The Commission for the Management of State Capital at Enterprises shall:

- Review and propose amendments to the regulations and procedures which remain unclear and overlapping about the power delegation, responsibility assignment and mechanism for coordination between the line ministries and the Commission in deciding on investment policies, transfer or termination of investment projects, appraisal of base designs and technology designs, overall appraisal of group-A projects, and other tasks related to the functions and tasks of the owner’s representative agencies.

- Review sectorial master plans and clearly list group-A projects of economic groups under approved sectorial master plans which are not subject to the procedures for deciding on investment policies under Clause 1, Article 7 of Decree No. 59/2015/ND-CP of June 18, 2015.

- Intensify the coordination between the Commission and line ministries in making annual production and business plans of enterprises in order to ensure that their strategies and plans conform to national strategies, master plans, plans and policies on development of sectors.

- Amend and supplement financial management regulations of their attached enterprises, clearly determining the mechanism of delegation of powers to Members’ Councils of economic groups and corporations; clearly define competence and procedures for deciding on investment policies and investment in public investment projects and projects funded by other capital sources of state economic groups and corporations, then report them to the Prime Minister.

g/ The State Bank of Vietnam shall take measures to ensure a credit growth rate under the set plans, meeting the demand for capital for production and business; concentrate credit growth on priority sectors; and strictly control credit facilities for sectors with latent risks.

3. To radically implement solutions to control livestock epidemics and stabilize production; to boost the development of agriculture, forestry and fisheries for export, ensuring the fulfillment of the set export plans

a/ The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall:

- Direct and comprehensively implement solutions to prevent and control the African swine fever, and blue-ear and foot-and-mouth diseases under the Prime Minister’s Directive 04/CT-TTg dated March 20, 2019; stamp out epidemic outbreaks and let no new outbreaks occur; intensify the inspection and control work and strict handle cases of trading in, slaughter and transport of pigs and pork products likely to spread the epidemic; strictly handle cases of hiding or failure to declare diseased animals; and direct the research and creation of a vaccine for, and the implementation of solutions to prevent and control, the African swine fever.

- Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and provincial-level People’s Committees in, directing provincial-level Departments of Industry and Trade to urge processing enterprises and establishments to purchase more pork for reserve and frozen preservation in order to prevent pork prices from falling too much and concurrently avoid pork price hike when the herd is not yet restored; and produce sufficient swine breeds for herd restoration when the epidemic is over.

- Assess results of the implementation of solutions to prevent and control the African swine fever, blue-ear and foot-and-mouth diseases, and direct the epidemic control in the coming time, then report them to the Prime Minister in the third quarter of 2019.

- Build the information system for epidemic and disease detection, prevention and control from the grassroots to ensure provision of adequate information about epidemics and diseases serving timely management and direction.

- Report in June 2019 to the Prime Minister on the implementation of the scheme on restructuring of the rice sector.

- Report to the Prime Minister on the implementation of the plan on restructuring of agricultural production until 2020 under the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 1819/QD-TTg of November 16, 2017, in October 2019.

- Report in the fourth quarter of 2019 to the Prime Minister on the review and modification of the master plan on production and structure of plants and domestic animals to meet the market needs.

- Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with related ministries and sectors in, building cooperatives and proceeding to found cooperative unions for a number of key products which are produced on a large scale and have spillover effects so as to form a value chain from production to processing and sale of farm produce in all regions of the country.

b/ The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in, intensifying the weather and climate forecast and early warning, taking the initiative in working out plans and scenarios to respond to extreme weather phenomena such as drought, storms, flood, saltwater infiltration, etc., and devising solutions to effectively prevent and mitigate damage caused by natural disasters.

c/ The Ministry of Information and Communications and the press agencies shall intensify the public communication to persuade the people to continue consuming pork; and assign functional units to continue coordinating with the press and communications agencies in increasing time volumes for and diversifying contents of the communication about harms of the African swine fever and illegal import of animals and animal products which poses the risk of spreading the epidemic, affects food hygiene and safety and causes harms to the community health.

d/ The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall report to the Prime Minister before April 15, 2019, on the implementation of the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 1203/QD-TTg of September 18, 2018, on issuing the plan of action to implement the Government’s Decree No. 57/2018/ND-CP of April 17, 2018, on mechanisms and policies to encourage enterprises to invest in agriculture and rural areas.

dd/ The Vietnam Union of Cooperatives shall continue playing its key role in the building and development of cooperative economy and cooperatives; step up and renew methods of communication about policies and regulations on cooperatives and benefits brought about by cooperatives to their members in order to improve the awareness of the people, authorities and sectors about new-type cooperatives.

e/ Provincial-level People’s Committees shall strictly abide by directions of the Prime Minister and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development regarding measures to prevent and control the African swine fever; concentrate local resources on definitely eliminating epidemic outbreaks and letting no new outbreaks occur; organize the disposal of diseased, suspiciously diseased and dead animals; carry out general sanitization, fumigation and spraying of disinfectants (lime powder, chemicals, etc.); promptly detect, prevent and strictly handle under regulations entities trading in or transporting animals and animal products likely to spread the epidemic. Chairpersons of provincial-level People’s Committees shall take responsibility before law, the Government and Prime Minister for results of the prevention and control of the African swine fever in their localities.

4. To concentrate efforts on removing difficulties in the production, accelerating the implementation and capital disbursement of large-scale industrial projects, ensuring the disbursement of 100% of public investment capital in 2019

a/ The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall:

- Report in May 2019 to the Prime Minister on the assignment of the plan on investment of state budget capital in 2019, and options on how to fully allocate the planned state budget investment capital in 2019, including the modification (if any) of such plan by ministries, sectors and localities.

- Report to the Prime Minister before October 10, 2019, on the transfer of planned investment capital in 2019 from projects with slow capital disbursement to those with quick capital disbursement and in need of additional capital for their accelerated implementation, or from ministries, sectors and localities with slow capital disbursement to those with quick capital disbursement and in need of additional capital.

- Review and assess the implementation of the plan on public investment for the 2016-2020 period in order to propose the formulation of the plan on public investment for the 2021-2025 period, then report it to the Prime Minister in the third quarter of 2019.

- On a monthly basis, base itself on the Ministry of Finance’s capital disbursement report, report to the Prime Minister and Government and publicize in the public investment management system the list of ministries, sectors and localities that disburse public investment capital slower than the average pace of the whole country.

- Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with ministries and central agencies in, enhancing the examination, inspection and supervision of investment projects using public investment capital.

- Consider providing support to accelerate the implementation of the following three groups of FDI projects: (i) large-scale projects for which the procedures for investment capital increase are being carried out; (ii) newly licensed projects or projects with increased capital in 2019; and (iii) new investment projects, and Samsung Group’s increase of investment capital in its project in Bac Ninh province.

b/ The Ministry of Industry and Trade shall:

- Formulate the Government’s program of action to implement the Political Bureau’s Resolution No. 23-NQ/TW of March 22, 2018, on orientations for formulating national policies on industrial development until 2030, with a vision toward 2045, then report it to the Prime Minister in the second quarter of 2019.

- Take the initiative in implementing solutions to expand the market, improve capacity of enterprises engaged in support industries and enhance association between enterprises manufacturing finished products and those manufacturing support industry products.

- Direct the accelerated implementation of large-scale industry projects; address according to its competence or report to competent authorities for addressing problems in order to speed up the implementation of large-scale projects which help create a driving force for growth, particularly energy projects.

- Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with related ministries and sectors in, expeditiously addressing problems in the electricity supply in the second quarter of 2019; step up the signing of long-term contracts between the Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Holding Corporation Limited and coal-consuming households to serve as a basis for the formulation of feasible long-term coal mining plans.

- Assume the prime responsibility for proposing solutions to gradually reduce the proportion of processed and assembled products and increase that of support industry products; encourage and create conditions for enterprises to participate in technology innovation programs, then report such to the Prime Minister in the third quarter of 2019.

c/ The Ministry of Construction shall continue implementing the national strategy for housing development and step up the development of social houses to ensure social security; study and propose mechanisms and solutions to develop social houses in urban centers and houses for workers of industrial parks, and houses for lease and houses for low-income earners; strictly control the planning and effective exploitation and use of urban land areas for development of social houses, then report them to the Prime Minister in the third quarter of 2019.

d/ The Commission for the Management of State Capital at Enterprises shall coordinate with the related ministries and agencies in approving as soon as possible and directing the implementation of production and business plans of state economic groups and corporations transferred to it; definitely solve problems in the transfer of projects of state economic groups and corporations.

5. To synchronously implement solutions to strongly develop the domestic market and boost the export growth

a/ The Ministry of Industry and Trade shall:

- Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and related ministries and sectors in (i) reorganizing the domestic market; (ii) intensifying activities to connect Vietnamese enterprises exporting agricultural and aquatic products with Chinese enterprises wishing to import goods through border gates, particularly goods in which Vietnam has great advantages and for which China has great demands such as fruits, aquatic products, rice, coffee, etc.; (iii) diversifying and expanding the export market for agricultural products; and (iv) enhancing the management of imported timber in order to take advantage of the tariff reduction upon Vietnam’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

- Formulate and submit to the Prime Minister in April 2019 a scheme on settlement of international commercial disputes, especially to take any opportunities and limit disadvantages and challenges possibly caused by the US-China trade war; boost the export of goods in which Vietnam has advantages and on which China faces high tariffs.

- Accelerate the effective and comprehensive implementation of solutions to strongly develop the domestic market in combination with expanding the export markets, especially the market for agricultural products, raise the competitiveness of exports and take any opportunities brought about by the new-generation trade agreements (CPTPP, FTA, EVFTA, etc.); strictly control temporary import for re-export and implementation of the regulations on origin, thus avoiding the “transit” of goods via Vietnam to export to third countries.

- Organize the plan on implementation of the CPTPP, formulate programs on support for, and raising of competitiveness and capacity to participate in the global value chain of, enterprises, with priority given to SMEs, in order to get the best of FTAs.

- Effectively implement solutions to ensure the supply-demand balance, especially for essential goods, and develop a database on supply and demand of essential goods to serve the market administration; direct the implementation of the market stabilization program; closely coordinate with other ministries and sectors in controlling prices of state-managed goods with the aim of controlling inflation (keeping the average CPI at under 4%), thereby ensuring social security.

b/ The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall:

- Actively conduct negotiations for opening the export market, keeping stable traditional markets, and seeking and expanding potential markets; minimize the dependence on certain markets, and satisfy requirements of importing countries on traceability and geographical indications of exported agricultural, forest and aquatic products; introduce agricultural products and build brands for these products, particularly key agricultural products exported to the Chinese market.

- Coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade in intensifying activities to connect Vietnamese enterprises exporting agricultural and aquatic products with Chinese enterprises wishing to import goods through border gates.

- Intensify the trade promotion forTracatfish and brackish water shrimps with permanent orders from traditional partners by ensuring goods quality, keeping stable product prices and satisfying traceability requirements; increase the productivity and output of aquatic products in combination with strict control of conditions on facilities rearing aquatic animals and processing and exporting aquatic products and of product quality; develop new and high-value products; improve the quality of aquatic animal breeds so as to raise the production efficiency; apply the regulations on traceability and geographical indications for agricultural products in order to achieve the export growth targets of the fisheries sector.

c/ The Ministry of Finance shall:

- Expeditiously finalize a decree promulgating Vietnam’s specially preferential import tariff to implement the CPTPP, a decree promulgating Vietnam’s specially preferential import tariff to implement the Vietnam Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement for the 2019-2022 period, and a decree promulgating Vietnam’s specially preferential import tariff to implement the Vietnam-Cuba Trade Agreement, then report them to the Prime Minister in April 2019.

- Review and apply in the second quarter of 2019 HS codes to all goods on the list of import and export goods subject to specialized management and inspection in order to improve transparency and help enterprises reduce time for completing the import and export procedures.

- Formulate a scheme on management of e-commerce for goods imported or exported across the borders, then report it to the Prime Minister in the second quarter of 2019.

d/ The Ministry of Construction shall:

- Study and propose mechanisms, policies and documents on development and management of new types of real estate, such as condotel, resort villa, officetel, etc., then report them to the Prime Minister.

- Closely monitor developments of, and regularly update information about, the real estate market; improve the information system and database on houses and real estate market.

dd/ The Ministry of Information and Communications shall:

- Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and related agencies in, studying and formulating a Prime Minister decision detailing the import of used information technology products on the list of goods banned from import for scientific research, and processing for foreign traders of used information technology products on the list of goods banned from import, specifying the conditions, procedures and dossiers of application for import permits and agencies in charge of granting import permits, then report it to the Prime Minister in the second quarter of 2019.

- Study and revise the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 169/2006/QD-TTg of July 17, 2006, prescribing investment in procurement of information technology equipment by agencies and organizations funded by the state budget, in order to issue detailed regulations on priority and requirements for state agencies in priority in investment in and procurement of domestically manufactured products in a more explicit and practical manner, then report it to the Prime Minister.

6. To strongly develop tourism with spillover effects on the development of different production sectors and market services

a/ The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall:

- Formulate a program on development of goods to serve tourists, proposing policies to support establishments making Vietnamese handicrafts, then report it to the Prime Minister in the second quarter of 2019.

- Propose solutions to make breakthroughs in tourism in both quantity and quality, especially in strategic tourist localities and areas, then report them to the Prime Minister in the third quarter of 2019.

b/ The Ministry of Finance shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in, proposing excise tax rates applicable to golf players, with a view to attracting high-class tourists into Vietnam.

c/ The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall direct overseas Vietnamese representative missions to coordinate with one another in mobilizing aid and taking part in Vietnam’s tourism promotion and advertising in host countries or international organizations.

7. To organize national conferences to address challenges and boost growth

a/ The Ministry of Industry and Trade shall prepare the agenda for a conference on solutions to promote the development of Vietnam’s mechanical engineering industry, then report them to the Prime Minister in June 2019.

b/ The Ministry of Transport shall prepare the agenda for a conference on development of waterway and coastal transport, then report it to the Prime Minister in August 2019.

c/ The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall:

- Prepare the agenda for a conference on development of infrastructure of industrial parks, export processing zones and economic zones, then report it to the Prime Minister in April 2019.

- Prepare the agenda for a conference on improvement of national labor productivity, then report it to the Prime Minister in May 2019.

- Prepare the agenda for a conference on leading role of major enterprises and economic groups in the national economy, then report it to the Prime Minister in May 2019.

- Prepare the agenda for a conference on role of the northern key economic region in economic growth, then report it to the Prime Minister in May 2019.

- Prepare the agenda for a conference on role of the central key economic region in economic growth, then report it to the Prime Minister in July 2019.

- Prepare the agenda for a conference on role of the southern key economic region in economic growth, then report it to the Prime Minister in September 2019.

- Prepare the agenda for a conference on reduction of costs for enterprises, then report it to the Prime Minister in October 2019.

d/ The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall prepare the agenda for a conference on promotion of the development of agricultural, forest and aquatic product processing industries and mechanization in agriculture, then report it to the Prime Minister in July 2019.

dd/ The Ministry of Science and Technology shall prepare the agenda for a conference on orientations for science and technology and innovation as a driving force for socio-economic development, then report it to the Prime Minister in September 2019.

e/ The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall prepare the agenda for the second conference on sustainable development of Mekong Delta responding to climate change, then report it to the Prime Minister in April 2019.

III. ORGANIZATION OF IMPLEMENTATION

1. Ministries, central agencies and provincial-level People’s Committees shall direct their attached agencies and units in performing the tasks specified in this Directive, take responsibility before the Government and Prime Minister for results of the task performance and regularly assess performance results then send them to the Ministry of Planning and Investment for summarization and reporting to the Government and Prime Minister at the Government’s regular meetings in June, September and December of 2019.

2. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, government-attached agencies and other central agencies, chairpersons of provincial-level People’s Committees, chairpersons of Boards of Directors, and general directors of state economic groups and corporations, and heads of other agencies, units and organizations funded by the state budget shall organize the implementation of this Directive.-

Prime Minister
NGUYEN XUAN PHUC